Friction shock-absorbing mechanism



Aug. 24 1926. 1,597,462

" S. B, HASELTINE v FRIcTIoN SHOCK ABsoRBING MECHANISM Patented Aug. 24, 1926.

lvlltllwlnt' ST'ES enfrentar STACY B. HASELTINE, OF CCAG-QlLLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSGMENTS, TO W. H. MINER, INC., .A CORPORATION OF DELA'iTARE.

BRICTION SHOCY-ABSORBNG- MECHANISIVI.

Application led September This invention relates to improvements in friction shock absorbingv mechanisms.

)ne object of the invention is to provide a friction shock absorbing mechanism more particularly adapted for railway draft .riggings, having relatively heavy lspring capacity, together with additional friction resistance, wherein the spring resistance is at ail times effective to restore the follower elements to normal position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a friction shock absorbing mechanism of the character indicated, including a friction system wherein a lateral pressure creating means having the attributes of a blunt and keen angle wedge system is made use of to assure quick and easy release of the friction system. n

Still another object'of the invention is to provide a mechanism of the type referred to, having combined spring and frictional resistance, wherein the spring vresistance means is effective to restore the follower' acting means after each compression stroke and ,thus be available to absorbthe succeeding shocks. y

A further object of the invention is to provide a friction shock absorbing mechanism of the character indicated, having preliminary spring resistance followed by a combined heavier spring and frictional resistance during the remainder of the compression stroke.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will more clearly and fully appear from the description and claims hereinafter following.

In the drawing forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a longitudinal, horizontal, sectional view of a portion of a railway draft rigging, showing my improvements in connection therewith. Figure 2 is a longitudinal, vertical, sectional view of the shock absorbing mechanism proper, corresponding substantially to the line 2-2 of Figure 1. And Figure 3 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view corresponding substantially to the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

In said drawings, --10 indicate channelshaped center or draft sills of a railway car underframe, to the inner faces of which are secured tandem stop castings 11-11 each provided with the usual four, longitudinally spaced pockets 1.2-12 at either side the center thereof, each presenting a pair of op- 12,-1924. Serial No. 737,352.

posed stop shoulders 13 and 14. Between each adjacent pair of pockets 12, the stop castings are provided with inner, longitudinal walls 15, the wall 15 midway the ends of the casting being offset laterally inwardly toward the airis of the mechanism with reference to the remaining walls, for a purpose hereinafter described. rilhe inner end of the draw-bar is indicated at 1G, to which is operatively secured by means of the usual key l?, the yoke 18, the key working in longitudinally elongated aligned openings provided in the yoke and the draft sills. The shock absorbing mechanism proper is disp' Ied within the yoke and the latter is supported by a detachable saddle plate 19.

The improved shock absorbing mechanism proper, as shown, comprises broadly, a front follower casing A; a rear follower memberV B a central friction shell C; a central wedge Vblock D, wedge shoes E and F; a front main spring resistance element 'Gg a rear spiinjg resistance element H5 and a retainer no t rlhe front follower casing A 'is of gen? rerally cylindrical form on its inner contour, its exterior having spaced, parallel, flat, top and bottom faces i-2O and cylindrical portions 21-21 therebetween, and a transverse front .end wall 22. The front end wall 22 is adapted toco-act with the rear end of the drawbar 16 and is extended laterally beyond the side walls 21 to co-operate`with the stop shoulders 13 and 14 of the pocket at the front end of the stop castings in the Amanner of the usual follower. At the inner end, the casing A is provided with lateral iianges 23-23 adapted to co-act with the stop shouldersv 13 and 1a of the innermost pocket of the front set. rlilie top and bottom walls 2O of the casing A extend'rearwardly beyond the remainder of the casing as indicated at 2li to engage the front end of the friction shell C.

The rear follower member Bis in the form of a heavy, r ctangular` plate co-oper ating with the corresponding stop shoulders 13 and 14 of the rearmost pockets 12 of the stop castings and has a central post 25 formed integral therewith and projecting forwardly therefrom. it the front end the post 25 is cut away at opposite sides to provide a redu-cedextension 26 adapted, to cooperate with the wedge friction system comprising the elements D, E and F.

drical-conteurand converge forwardly ofthe mechanism .presenting opposedv interior friction surfaces 31-31 with which the wedge shoes E and'F are adapted to cooperate. The end wall 29 is provided with acentral opening 32 corresponding inoutline tothe cross-section yof the reduced extension 2G ofthe post 25 and is adapted to receive thel end of the post for rfree working movementftherein. It will b'e evident that the end wall 29 `immediately adjacent the opening 32 presents a continuons interiorv fiat abutment face along the top, bottom and sides of the casing, adapted to co-operate with the wedge block D. Upon reference to Figure-'1,' it will be seen that the friction snell A* is of such a width that it has free working movement between the offset centralwalls 15 of the stop castings, the Vwalls 15 forming guide-means for the shell.

The central wedge element D is preferablyk in'ftheform of a block having a rearI flat face 33 adapted to co-act with the flat end face 3tof the extension 26 ofthe post 25. As clearly shown in Figure 1, inthe normal position of the parts the front end face 34 ofthey post is spaced slightly from the face 33 of the block to permit ofV preliminary action of the mechanism. The block is also provided with a wedge faceV` 35 extending ata relatively keen angle with reference to the longitudinal axis ofthe mechanism `and atvthe opposite side withk a wedge face 3G extending at a relatively blunt angle with reference tosaid axis.

TheI wedge friction shoeE- is preferably inthe form of a block and is formed at its outerv side with a longitudinally extending cylindrical/friction surface 131 correspondingly` inclined to the lower friction surface 31 ofthe .casing C and adapted to co-operate therewith.- The element E is also provided with a wedge face 135 extendingat thesame angle, and cooperablewith the wedge face 35 of the wedge block D at one side of the horizontal center line of' the mechanism, and with anadditional inclined face 37 on'the other side oflthe center line of themechanism, said face 37-extending ata relatively blunt-angle with reference to the longitu-V dinal axis vofthe mechanism and co-actingv with the front endof the wedge friction E is provided with. a rfi-at, transverse face coacting with the spring resistance G, the latter being interposed between said wedge friction shoe and the end wall 22 of the lcasing A, and the shoe acting inthe manner of a front intermediate follower.

The friction wedge shoe F, which is also preferably in the form of a block, is pro` vided lon its outer side with a cylindrical friction'surface indicated by 131 and adapted to co-operate with the friction surface 31lat the top of the lshell C; On the inner side, that is the side nearest-the axis-0f the mechanism, the friction shoe F is formed with rear and front wedge faces 136 and 137 correspondingly inclined to and adapted to co-operatev respectively with the wedge facesA 3G Aand y37.

The spring-resistance G is disposed within the casing fr and comprises a relatively light inner coil and aheavierouter coil 'hav-l ing their front and rear ends bearing respectively on a the inner surface of t-he end wall'of the casing A and the front end of the wedge friction shoe The rear spring resistance elementl H consists-of a single relatively heavy coilsurroun'ding the post 25 andhas its front andrear ends bearing respectively on the rear end of the shell G- and Ithe front face of the-plate-lile vportion ofthe -follower B.

The partsof the mechanism are'h'eld in as sembled relationand undervinitial comvpfres-v sion by the retainer bolt J extending Athrough the inner corl ofthe spring 'resistance- G and aligned openings in the post125,wedgeblock 100- D, wedge friction shoe E, and the casing Af, the front and rear` ends ofi the bolt being anchored,respectively te the wall 22 o-fthel` casing Aand the post 25 ofthe followermemberfB, the follower: me'mlber- B. being- V105'v provided with an elongated` opening 33 adapted to accommodate the head off'th'ef bolt for limited sliding movement'to allowl for the necessary compression'rof.the mechanism..

As v thevario-us frictionand wedge surfaces become worn, compensation therefor is had Vby the expansive action yof 'the spring resistance .G which is under'y initial comp-res sionv as hereinbefore described. f

'Vlien vthe parts are in. the normal,i full releaseposition as clearly shown in Figure 1,

thel casing A. and the lfollower member-B are held iir their outermost position. by the spring resistance' elements, inl engagement with theV respective stopgshoulclers 13 and 14, andthefriction shell -C has the flanges 30 thereof;` inengagement with-`l`r the stop shoulder 13 -of the innermost of the-*rear pockets 121, and thefront end of :the shell mengagement with the arms 24 o-fithe casing A.

Assuming aninwardl V:or buf-fing movement ofthe Vdrawbar, the operation` ofthe imh proved sheeki absorbingfmechanism is-as follows. The front follower casing A will be forced inwardly by the rearward movement of the drawbar, forcing the friction shell C rearwardly therewith and compressing the rear spring resistance H between the shell and the followerI member B. The described action will continue until the front end of the post 25 is brought into engagement with the wedge bloclr D, arresting movement of the latter. Continued inward movement of the casing A and the shell C will effect a relative movement between the shell and the wedge bloclr D and also compress the spring resistance element G between the end wall of the casing A and the friction wedge block As pressure is thus applied to the element D, the initial tendency is for the same to slip or move ou the keen wedge face 135 of the shoe IE, it being evident that this will produce a spreading laterally of the friction unit consisting of the three elements D, IG and F. As the three elements D, E and F, co-operating as a unit, move inwardly of the shell C, the shoes E and F travel along the inclined faces 31, thereby pro vlucing a lateral inward movement of the slices E and F with respect to the remaining element D. rhis lateral movement of the elements E and F produces a separating wedge action between the two elements D and E, thereby slightly elongatiig the unit in the direction of the applied force and creating a very high resistance between the unit and the friction shell. It is of course understood that resistance is offered the entire unit by the spring element G and that the spring is compressed between the wall 22 of the front follower and the shoe E which functions as an intermediate follower. In this connection, it will be obvious that the sets of inclined faces 86, 136, 37, 137, on account of their relative blunt angularity with respect to the center line of the mechanism, w'illpreadily accommodate the action above described and will act in 'the manner of a safety device to prevent bursting of the shell while the highest frictional resistance is still maintained. The described action of the mechanism will continue until the actuating pressure is reduced or until the stop shoulders 14 limit the movement of the casing A and friction shell C respectively.

During draft the action will be substantially the reverse of that just described, the casing A and the friction shell C being held stationary by the stop shoulders 13 while the rear follower B is moved toward the shell C, the post thereof being brought into engagement with the wedge block D after the preliminary action required to take up the space between these two parts and thereafter will actuate the wedge friction system and effect compression of the spring Cr in addition to the compression of the spring H in the manner hereinbefore de-Y scribed.

Upon reduction of the actu-ating force, the front and rear spring resistance elements C and H will be free to independently return the, front follower casing A, iear follower member B and the shell C independent of the release of the friction wedge system, inasmuch as the casing A is separate and distinct from the shell C and the latter is `arranged to float between the casing A and the post 25 of the follower B. Upon reduction of the pressure as described, the wedge D will readily release itself with respect to the shoes E and F on account of the obtuse or blunt included angle between the wedge faces 135 and the inclined face 136 of the two shoes. the pressure wedge element D with respect to the shoes, in turn serves to permit collapse of the entire unit which may then be projected rearwardly with reference to the shell C by the action of the spring resistance G. y

I have herein shown and described what I now consider the preferred manner of carrying out my invention, but the same This movement of is merely illustrative, and I contemplate' all changes and modifications that come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In a shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a front follower casing; of a rear follower member having a post thereon; a floating friction shell interposed between said front follower casing and saidl rear follower member, said shell being adapted to be engaged and actuated by said casing; a friction wedge system disposed within the shell and co-operating therewith, said system being adapted to be engaged and actuated by the post of said rear follower member during compression of the mechanism; and tandem arranged spring resistance elements, one of said elements being interposed between the friction wedge system and the front follower casing and the other being interposed between the friction shell and said rear follower member.

2. In a shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with front and rear outer and front and rear intermediatefollower acting means; of tandem arranged spring resistance elements co-operating with said follower acting means; and means for transmitting the actuating forces from said outer to said intermediate followers, said means including a friction shell having interior converging friction surfaces, kfriction wedge shoes co-operating with said shell and a wedge member co-operating with said shoes, said wedge member having a wedge face (zo-operating with one of said shoes, said face being disposedat a relatively keen wedge acting angle with reference toj the longitudinal axis of the mechanism,l and. a second wedge face` coroperating with the. remaining shoe said last named face beingdisposed at a relatively blunt angle to -said axis, said shoes havingcofoperating wedge faces also disposed at a relatively blunt angle with reference to said axis.

3. In a shock absorbingmechanism; the combination withside castings having front and rear sets of stop shoulders and front and rear intermediate sets of stop shoulders; of front andrearintermediate follower-act- .ing means eoopeiating with said front and respectively; a spring resistance.interposed between said outer front and yintermediate followerI acting means; a second springtresistance interposed kbetwceirsaid rcaroznter and intermediate follower acting means; means for transmitting` the actuating-force from said outer front follower means to said intermediate rear follower means; `and means for transmitting the actuatingforce from said rear outer follower means to said front intermediatefollower means; one of said actuating force transmittingmeans, including a friction` shellandthey other of said actuating force transnliit-tingmeans ,including a friction wedge system co-operating with the friction shell. V

4.'.In a shock .absorbingmechanism, the

combination with frontand rear seits of inner andouter stop shoulders and interme- .diate sets of inner and outer stop shoulders;

of front andrearfollowers, .said followers co-operating with said front and rear stop shoulders,l each follower having a pressure transmitting member associated therewith,

4said membersbeing kmovable in unison with `said Afollowers and one of said members Vhaving intermediate follower means thereon eo-operatingwith one set of intermediate stop shoulders; a friction shell having `intermediate follower means thereon co-operating with the other set of intermediate 4stopshoulders; a Yfriction wedge system cog the friction shell; a seconduspring resistance `interposed between the remaining` follower and the-friction shell, Ithe pressure transmitting member of salidlast-named follower .being-adapted Ito engageand actuate the friction wedge system upon compression of v the mechanism.

f In witness that I claimthe foregoing I havehereunto subscribed my name this 10th day .of September, 1924.

sTAoY B. misnLTiNii. 

